Self-adjusting shaft bearing



March 4, 1930. w. STRQHMEIER I 1,749,196

SELF ADJUSTING SHAFT BEARING Filed June 17, 1929 Q I IIYVENTOKQ BYWATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1930 WILLIAM STROHMEIER, or innALUsIA,ILLIN'OIS SELF-ADJUSTING SHAFT Jeannine;

' Myinvention has reference to a self-adj ustling shaft bearing, andrelates morespeoially to means for supportingthe shaft of a motor'bo'at,.ofthat type in which the shaft extends :in an inclined positionthrough the floor of a boat. It sometimes occurs that the motor is;improperly set in the boat, or gets out of position, as a resultofwhi'ch there is a strain on the shaft until the fault is corrected.One of the purposes of'the present invention is to provide. a simple andeffective means for relieving the strain on the shaft,

. so'that it will adjust itself to'a position conforming with that ofthe motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for fixing theshaft in adjusted position, so that the same will not be affected byvibration of the shaft, or other accie dental cause. This means alsoserves asa preventiv'e of breakage of some of the parts due "toexcessive stress thereonin securing the same 1n place.

-The above named,'and other features and.

' I advantages of the invention will more fully ,erence being had to theaccompanying drawappear from the following specification, refings, inwhich; I

Fig. .l is a fragmentarylongitudinal section on the broken line 1 -l ofFig. 2, of acasing equipped with the invention.

. vFig. 2 is an end view of the invention with the plate 8 removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a wedge key 15. The referencenumber 1 indicates acasing of taperingform, provided with flanges 2and 3 for'attachinent tothe bottomof a motor boat, at the" larger end of which casing, or

' water-log, is a head 4, having. anopening 5 stuffing-box 12, toprevent outward escape of water in the casing 1. Lateral movement of thebearing 11 in any direction is permitted by an opening 13 in the plate8, ofgreater diameter thantheopening 5'. The latter open- 1929. Serial'No. 371,552.

ing provides for a shaft 6.

Havingan eccentric connection with the bolts 9 are circular stops orkeys 14, which bear against the edge of the plate 7, and are clampedtightly between the head 4 and plate 8, preventing any casual movementof the plate 7 or shaft 6 after adjustment thereof. Said stops also act.as spacers between the head 4 and plate 8, preventing the same frombeing drawn toward each other in setting the bolts as to cause crackingor breakage thereof.

In case of the shaft 6 being out of proper similar movement of thealignment the nuts 10 are loosened a little, whereupon the plate 7 andshaft 6 adjust themselves to the true position, after which the stops 14are set against the edge of the plate 7 and the nuts again tightened.Any necessary change in the position of the shaft can thus be quicklymade.

In Fig. 3 is shown a wedge-key 15 of curved form, the inner curveof'which conforms to that of the plate 7, and which can be used as asubstitute for one or more of the stops 14, the wedge-key being forcedin between the bolt 9 and edge of the plate 7, and then clamped betweenthe head 4 and plate 8 as in the case of the stop. I

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a shaft casing and head therefor, provided withan opening permitting a universal lateral movement of a shaft passingtherethrough, a relatively small plate and shaftbearing projectedoutwardly therefrom, a clamp-plate connected with said head, providedwith an opening permitting free lateral movement of said shaft bearing,

and radially adjustable stops on opposite sides ofsaid small therewith.i

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of clamp-plates, avshaft-bearing andplate plate, of equal thickness connected'there with,adapted to be held rigidlybetween said clamp-plates, said clampplatesbeing provided with openings permitting a free lateral movement of ashaft passing therethrough, fastening devices at the outer edge of saidclamp-plates, and eccena Q V 1,749.196- 1 trically operativekeylme'mhers interposed between said fastening devices and said shaft-,i bearing plate, locking said plate from'lateral movement. 7 Y 7 3). Inadevice oftlie class deseribed, a stationary plate having a central shaftopening permitting free lateral movement'of a shaft passingrtherethrougli a relatively. small. plate and shaft bearing integraltherewith, a clamp, 7 7

plate similar to the stationary plate, andl aw ing a central shaftOpening-permitting free 1 lateral movement f ashaft lpassing. there athrough, bolts securing saidstatiefia'ry and clamp plates to each othernear-their "outer edges, and eccentrically mounted stops on said beltsof s't'ibstanti al ly the same t'hi el z'ness as said small plate. I p H'l ntestimeny whereof I affix signamre.

